No Sale

Last Friday, January 15, two men attempting to sell a cell phone through Craigslist met up with a prospective buyer at a shopping-center parking lot near 5500 Grossmont Center Drive. Upon inspecting the cell phone, the "buyer" sprayed both men in the face with pepper spray and tried to run away with the phone. The perpetrator was described by police as a 5’11” black male, approximately 155 pounds.

According to a La Mesa Police Department report, the two victims caught up with the suspect and were able to detain him until police arrived. There were no reports of injury during the incident. A second suspect — who police believed to be the getaway driver — was found and arrested near the scene.

Authorities identified the first suspect as a 20-year-old from Jamul and the second suspect as a 19-year-old white male from El Cajon. Both men are being charged with robbery and conspiracy and have been booked into downtown's Central Detention Facility.